JAN Bednarek has opened up on mental health struggles at Saints, which he says led to leaving the club being “the only solution.”

The Polish international is currently on loan at Premier League rivals Aston Villa and despite being yet to make an impact, he is feeling better.

The defender joined Villa on deadline day after falling out of favour with former manager Ralph Hasenhuttl and is also yet to play for new Villa boss Unai Emery.

Bednarek, 26, has revealed, in quotes translated by Sport Planet from an interview with Meczyki, working with a psychologist but avoiding labels of a specific illness.

"Staying at Southampton, I was definitely in a worse place mentally. I needed it (move away),” he said.

“I was coming back home tired and angry. I wasn't my real self. Now, the old Janek is back. I'm happy and content.

"I was working with a psychologist. He helped me a lot. A change of club was the only solution. I didn't make that decision myself. Close ones and experts helped me.”

Bednarek added: “I don't want to say whether it was depression. Maybe it was. We didn't try to look for a diagnosis. We tried to find a solution.

"People have worse problems than me, but this was my problem. Of course, time heals wounds and in this moment, things are better and I'm moving forward. I'm happy."

Bednarek has made 153 appearances for Saints since joining in 2017 but is unlikely to rejoin the squad next season after his current loan expires.  

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